COCOBOD Raises Alarm over Farmers Rejecting Cocoa Tools
Board members of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) have raised serious concerns over $100 million spent on procuring cocoa farm tools that farmers have deemed unsuitable for use. The investment, which covered the purchase of pruners and slashers, as well as digital weighing scales, has been largely rejected by the cocoa-growing community for failing to meet practical standards.
Farmers revealed that the $100 million worth of pruners and slashers are too heavy to be carried on their backs and too short to reach the upper branches of cocoa trees. Meanwhile, digital weighing scales purchased under the previous administration have also been criticized, with many units reportedly broken and failing to meet operational requirements.
During a tour of cocoa farms in the Eastern Region on Thursday, March 12, board members discovered hundreds of boxes containing the unused tools stored at a COCOBOD warehouse in Bosuso, Fanteakwa South District. The discovery underscores the extent of the problem and raises questions about procurement processes and the alignment of farm equipment with the needs of cocoa farmers.
Deputy CEO of COCOBOD in charge of Operations, Dr. James Kofi Kutsoati, explained that the tools had been sidelined since their purchase. He said, “We received reports that the initially procured slashers were too short, so longer ones were brought in. However, the longer versions turned out to be too heavy for farmers to carry, and as a result, they were returned to the warehouses where they remain unused.”
The board’s visit aims to assess the effectiveness of farm tools and ensure future investments align with farmer requirements. COCOBOD officials emphasized the importance of procuring equipment that is both durable and practical, highlighting the need for closer consultation with farmers during procurement planning.
The rejection of these tools has sparked concern among COCOBOD leadership over resource management and has prompted discussions on strategies to prevent similar challenges in future projects, ensuring that funds invested in cocoa farming contribute directly to productivity and farmer welfare.
